The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday attached properties worth Rs. 66 lakh of notorious cybercriminals Pradip Kumar Mandal, Akash, Ankush, Ganesh and others in Jamtara in a cyber fraud case.
Sources in the ED said that the attached assets include three immovable residential properties situated at Mirga village under Narayanpur police station area of Jamtara besides four vehicles as well as balances in the bank account of the accused persons.
The attachments were done under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
ED initiated investigations against cybercriminals Pradeep and his unknown associates on the basis of a chargesheet filed by Jamtara police against them in July 2016.
They are among the most wanted cybercriminals earning nationwide notoriety for fraudulently withdrawing and transferring money from bank accounts and e-wallets of people posing as bank officials. They were charged under sections 414/419/420/467/468/471 of IPC and section 66 (B)/ 66(C)/ 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2002.
Sections 414/419/420/467/471 of IPC are listed scheduled offences under PMLA. Investigation of the case by Ranchi zonal office of ED revealed accused persons and their associates had transferred funds in their bank accounts including in the bank accounts of their fathers by cheating bank customers and other individuals. Accused invested such money in the construction of houses, raising bank balance and purchasing of vehicles.
In September, 2018 ED had conducted raids at as many as six locations at two villages Mirga and Pabaya in Jamtara against them.
These accused in their thirties had accumulated properties worth over Rs three crore by swindling people by posing as bank and Sebi officials in the last five years.
In the case, the ED has already filed chargesheet before the court of Special Judge, CBI-cum-Special Judge under PMLA at Ranchi for commission of offence.